Where to go in Ficksburg, Freestate, South Africa

Ficksburg

Situated in the scenic panorama of the Eastern Free State, along the Highlands Route, Ficksburg nestles between the foot of the Imperani Mountain and the banks of the Caledon River, the border with Lesotho. There are magnificent views of the majestic Malutis as a backdrop, which change with the seasons, from the purple haze of summer to the snow clad slopes in winter.

TOWN AND SURROUNDS
Ficksburg’s economy is based chiefly on mixed agriculture, concentrating mainly on asparagus, cherries and deciduous fruit. Other crops are farmed on a smaller scale. At present there is renewed attention being payed to apples, with more farmers than ever planting apple trees.

The district is renowned for the breathtaking sandstone formations of the mountains here and many of the older buildings in and around the town were built of sandstone. Interestingly, the Union Buildings in Pretoria are built from sandstone quarried in the surrounding area. Gumtree, the small settlement just outside Ficksburg, has the tallest sandstone structure in the world—an old mill which is sadly no longer in use.

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HISTORY
The history of this area goes back to the dawn of time, starting with the dinosaurs who left their fossils and their footprints as reminders of their presence, later came the seas and deserts that set the sandstones with their fossilised remains, and wonderful evening colours. Later yet the first humans we know of who left us their prehistoric tools, then the Bushmen, who left their tools and their paintings for us to wonder at. Later came the Basotho nation, built up of the remnants of the tribes that had survived.
The first permanent European settlers in this area that was eventually to become Ficksburg was a missionary the Rev. James Allison and his wife, who lived amongst the Batlokoa. Slowly European hunters and the "trekboere", seeing the natural beauty, the farming potential and (not withstanding the cold winters) the pleasant climate, began looking at the area as a place where they could settle.

Inevitably a territorial conflict between black and white arose, this coupled to cross border raids, broken treaties, land hunger and disregarded bounderies led to a series wars between the Boers of the Free State and the Basutos. Farms were given to those who had served in the commandos during the wars, under the following conditions " To whomsoever a farm has been given will at all times be available for active service with his horse, a saddle and bridle, gun, 200 bullets, 5 pounds powder and 500 primers or 12 flints, and provisions for 10 days."
Ficksburg was proclaimed in June 1867, and named after General J.I.J. Fick, commandant general of the Free State forces, to serve as a "Military town”. By 1883 it had about 150 inhabitants. Schools, churches and a government office were built. Ficksburg became a magisterial district in 1891, and today the town is the gateway to Lesotho and the Katse Dam and boasts a large cosmopolitan population.

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THE STORY OF THE CHERRY FESTIVAL
Cherries have pleased the palates of food lovers for centuries. German missionaries brought cherries to South Africa by ship with early settlers in the 1900’s, and the first successful cherry trees were planted in South Africa in 1905 on the farm Platkop in the Clocolan district. It is estimated that there are 500 hectares of cherry trees in the Eastern Free State concentrated mainly in the Ficksburg, Clocolan and Fouriesburg area. There are approximately 250 trees per hectare and the average yield per hectare is 10 tons.

The first Cherry Festival was held in Ficksburg in 1967, with a street parade through town, a Cherry Ball and the crowning of a Cherry Queen. The Festival has grown over the years into an event during which more than 24 000 people visit the festival.

Ficksburg and Asparagus

Who brought asparagus to South Africa and when is not known, but one of the first growers was William Joughin, who imported it in 1906 and grew it successfully near Gumtree in the Eastern Free State in the ’20s. Plants were supplied to the Anglican mission at Modderpoort near Ladybrand, and the Eastern Free State and Gauteng remain the only commercial growing areas in the country, with winters cold enough to please the plants. South Africa exports about 560 tons a year, supplying the huge cravings of the European market.

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CLIMATE
Grasslands and indigenous trees. Large growing of grain and mealie crops. As the climate reaches sub-zero in winter - it is ideal for growing of cherries. Asparagus is also grown in the Ficksburg area. The climate is crisp and the good rainfall results in good plant life. Heavy thunder and hail storms occur during summer.
Average Summer Temperature: 30°C
Average Winter Temperature: 14°C
Highest recorded temperature: 35°C
Lowest recorded temperature: -13°C

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WHAT TO SEE
The Town Hall and old Court House were built before the Anglo Boer War, as was the Methodist Church, all were built of local sandstone. In 1907 the Dutch Reformed Church, the Railway Station, the old Post Office and the bridge across the Caledon , all built of Ficksburg sandstone, were formally opened. Many public buildings including the Union Buildings in Pretoria were built of Ficksburg sandstone.

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Ficksburg

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